Investment Calculator
Forecast steady portfolio growth.
Model a long-term investment plan using an initial balance, recurring deposits, and an expected annual return.
Your inputs
Update the assumptions to estimate your future portfolio value.
How this investment calculator works
The Dividend Vision investment calculator projects how a portfolio grows when you combine a starting balance, a fixed monthly contribution, and a steady annual rate of return. We compound the return monthly, then apply your contribution at the end of each period — the same convention most retirement calculators use, which keeps the projected balance slightly conservative compared with depositing on day one.
The output splits your final balance into total contributions (what you personally put in) and investment gains (everything earned through compounding). For long horizons the gains line is what tells the compounding story — it’s the part that pulls away from contributions in the back half of the chart.
How to use it
- Starting investment. The lump sum already in your brokerage or retirement account today.
- Monthly contribution. What you can realistically add each month. Round down rather than up — consistency beats optimism.
- Expected annual return. A long-run blended return for your portfolio. 7–9% is a common assumption for diversified equity, lower for income-heavy portfolios, higher for growth-tilted accounts. The calculator does not adjust for inflation; subtract roughly 2–3 percentage points if you want a real return.
- Time horizon. The number of years you plan to keep contributing before switching from accumulation to drawdown.
Common questions
Does it account for taxes? No — the calculator assumes a tax-sheltered account such as an IRA or 401(k). For taxable accounts, expect drag from dividend and capital-gains taxes that reduces the effective annual return.
Does it model dividend reinvestment? Yes, implicitly. The single annual return assumption already includes any income that’s reinvested. Use a yield-only assumption (for example, 3–5%) if you specifically want to see what an income-focused portfolio compounds to with no price appreciation.
Why doesn’t my balance match a financial advisor’s projection? Most advisor tools layer in inflation, tax assumptions, and Monte Carlo variance. This calculator is deterministic — it shows the math of compounding cleanly so you can compare scenarios.
Take it further with Dividend Vision
- Map a real income portfolio against your projected balance with the Portfolio Vision dashboard.
- Find income ETFs that fit your target yield using the ETF Screener.
- Run a yield-on-cost-style projection with the DRIP calculator and a long-term plan with the retirement calculator.
- Read The Portfolio Paycheck for guidance on transitioning from accumulation to monthly income.